Jeffery Seitz Faculty Profile

Photo of Jeffery Seitz

Jeffery  Seitz

Professor Emeritus

Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences

I am a emeritus professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.  I retired in August, 2021 and am teaching part-time.

Previously I was the Department Chair for two terms, Director of the Center for Student Research for two years, and the Associate Vice President of Research and Sponsored Programs for 5 years.  

My primary area of expertise is in experimental geochemistry.  My current research has focused on measuring the partial molal volumes of aqueous organic mixtures at high temperatures and pressures. These experimentally determined data can be used to help develop and refine estimates of the thermodynamic properties of organic compounds for which measurements are not available. Ultimately, this research has applications to developing a more accurate geochemical model for the origin of life on Earth in extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents (black smokers) and solar system bodies such as Mars and Europa.

Most of my professional activity, since coming to East Bay, has been in science education. I am a Director of the Science Partnership of the East Bay that partners with the Alameda County Office of Education, other county offices of education, and schools and districts throughout the San Francisco Bay area.  Since 2008, the Science Partnership has been awarded nearly $17 million in grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the State of California to provide services to schools and districts in the San Francisco Bay area seeking to strengthen their science programs and science instruction consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards.  

  • Ph.D., Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnice Institute and State University
  • A.M., Earth & Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
  • A.B., Earth & Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
Spring Semester 2024
Course #SecCourse TitleDaysFromToLocationCampus
GEOL 36101Igneous and Met PetrologyTU2:00PM4:30PMSC-N346Hayward Campus
GEOL 3611AIgneous and Met PetrologyTH2:00PM4:30PMSC-N346Hayward Campus